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How to add weight to a Stock Car Pinewood Derby Car
The heavier your pinewood derby car, the faster it will go. Most race rules limit the weight to 5 oz so you want your car as close to the limit as possible. The Stock Car block will need about 1.5 oz of additional weight to bring it up to the 5 oz limit.
You should install the weights in your car before you paint it.
Before adding the weights to your car, put the car block, wheels, axles and any other accessories that you will be adding to your car on a scale. Then add the weights until the total is 5 oz. (paint will add very little to the weight of your car).
When your car is complete, weigh it again. If it is over 5 oz, drill a few holes in the bottom of the block about an inch behind the front axle to remove some wood.
Below are several suggestions for adding weights to your pinewood derby car.
Lead Wire Weights
Lead is inexpensive, dense and is easy to work with but lead is toxic. Always use gloves when working with lead and make sure that none of the lead is exposed after you install it in the block.
When weighing the car and weights, use three weights that are approximately the same length. You can cut the weights with a hack saw, coping saw or wire cutters.
You will need:
- One set of Lead Wire Weights
- Drill and 5/16" drill bit
- Wood putty
- Sandpaper
- Hack saw, coping saw or wire cutters
- Clamp the car block on a flat surface.
- Using a 5/16" drill bit, drill three equally spaced holes straight into the back of the block. Drill above the rear axle slot. The depth of the holes should be slightly deeper than the length of the weights.
- Remove the clamp from the block.
- Insert the weights in the holes. The end of each weight should be at least 1/8" into the end of the block. This will leave room for the wood putty. Drill the holes deeper if needed.
- Weigh the block, wheels, axles and weights again. Adjust the amount of weight if needed for 5 oz.
- Seal the weight holes with the wood putty. Allow to dry in a warm place for 12 hours.
- Sand the wood putty until smooth and flush with the car block.
You can now paint your car and add the wheels and axles.
If the completed car is less than 5 oz. drill one or more shallow holes in the bottom of the car behind the rear axle and insert some of the leftover lead weight in the holes. Don't drill so deep that you drill into the other weights. Seal with wood putty.
Tungsten Weights
Tungsten is very dense but it is more expensive than the other weights. The density gives you a speed advantage because more of the weight can be placed farther back on the car.
You can use a combination of cylinders and a flat weight for optimum results.
You will need:
- Six Tungsten Cylinders
- One Fine Tune Cylinder
- Drill and 3/8" drill bit
- Wood putty
- Sandpaper
- Screw driver
- Clamp the block to a flat surface.
- Using a 3/8" drill bit, drill three holes straight into the back of the block deep enough to hold the cylinders two cylinders each plus any needed Fine Tune Cylinder.
- Remove the clamp from the block.
- Insert the weights in the holes. The end of the weights should be at least 1/8" into the end of the block. This will leave room for the wood putty. Drill the holes deeper if needed.
- Weigh the block, wheels, axles and weights again. Adjust the amount of weight if needed with the Fine Tune Cylinder. The Fine Tune Cylinder can be cut with a scissors or knife.
- Fill the weight holes with the wood putty. Allow to dry in a warm place for 12 hours.
- Sand the wood putty until smooth and flush with the car block.
- Paint your car and add the wheels and axles.
When the paint has dried and the wheels are on the car,attach the flat weight to the bottom of the block behind the rear axle slot using the supplied screw.